Faculty Bio Page

NZINGHA CAMARA is an internationally known educator, artist, choreographer, and producer. Ms. Camara’s career spans over thirty years of performance and professional choreographic experience that includes theater, movies, music videos, television, and community events. Upon completing her college education, Ms. Camara traveled to Africa and conducted years of research and study in different West African countries and received extensive training in the dance and drum culture under the guidance of Guinean and Senegalese masters from the world renowned Les Ballets Africains in The Republic of Guinea. Her expertise and work has taken her to China, Europe, Costa Rico, and the Caribbean. While teaching at UCLA, Ms. Camara was twice nominated for the Lester Horton Outstanding Teacher Award and produced and co-directed major productions, received a research Fellowship to study in Haiti, and where she received numerous other awards and accolades from students. In addition to teaching at CSULB, Ms. Camara teaches at the prestigious Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles where she has co-directed the annual Pan-African Dance and Drum conferences and where she is in residence with her own company, Kouman Kele Dance and Drum Ensemble.